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Home Sensors and Products pH Level Water Water Level NutrientsHow to understand the use of nutrients
The topic of nutrients is of interest for hydroponics gardeners as there are different needs and different combinations of the nutrients compared to regular gardening.
The primary nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and potassium (K). Plants use large amounts for their growth and survival and sometimes these are lacking from the soil. Remember that you will only need a small amount of nutrients when getting started. Since there is no soil when growing a hydroponic plant and there is a wide range of hard and soft water you will need to add the proper nutrients. Some of the preferred companies for nutrient materials would be Grow Well, Chem Grow, Hydroponicgradens.com, and Master Blend.
Let's talk about nutrients
There are essential macronutrients and essential micro nutrients. Some hydroponic gardeners claim that for optimal healthy produce you need to mix the nutrients in the proper proportions.
The following chart lists the proportions. Tomato -4 (N) nitrogen-18(P) phosphorus – 38(K) potassium Cucumber -8(N)-16(P)-36(K) Lettuce - 8(N)-15(P)-36(K) Peppers – 15(N)-5(P)-00(K)
It is also important to understand why you need to add the proper amount of CaNo3 also known as calcium nitrate which is a colorless salt that absorbs moisture from the air and is commonly used as a component in fertilizers. Magnesium Sulfide MgSO4 commonly known as Epsom salts helps gardens by increasing chlorophyll production, crop yields, green color and blooms. It also creates a healthy environment for the uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen. Nitrogen (N) is needed in small amounts in the early stages of your garden and less potassium (K) is needed at later stages.
The non mineral nutrients include hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), & carbon (C). Macronutrients The secondary nutrients are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) (these are sometimes found in the soil so that fertilizer is not always needed) Large amounts of Calcium and Magnesium are added when lime is applied to acidic soils. Sulfur can be found in sufficient amounts from the slow decomposition of soil organic matter …so don't throw out your grass clippings and leaves! Recycling organic matter from grass clippings and tree leaves is good for providing micronutrients (as well as macronutrients) to growing plants. Micronutrients Micronutrients are elements essential for plant growth which are needed in only very small (micro) amounts.
These elements are called minor elements or trace elements, but use of the term micronutrient is encouraged by the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America. The micronutrients boron (B), copper iron (Fe), chloride (Cl), (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) molybdenum (Mo) Some of the water soluble recommended manufacturers for nutrients include, Master Blend, Chem grow
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Home Sensors and Products pH Level Water Water Level Nutrients